Height adjusting and locking assembly for cabinet mounted ironing table

ABSTRACT

A cabinet mounted ironing table uses an essentially conventional ironing top, front leg and front leg adjustment. The table has a cross-rod attached to its inner end adapted to move vertically within a pair of vertical guide channels on each side of the cabinet. The cross-rod is movable into a series of height adjusting slots which are formed in a pair of vertical adjusting brackets at the upper ends of the guide channels or, in another embodiment are integrally formed in a molded or preformed cabinet shell. A locking member pivotally mounted on the inner end of the ironing table is adapted to be moved to a locking position adjacent an abutment surface of the cabinet. The abutment surface serves to prevent the cross-rod from being rocked out of the adjusting slots and provides a positive arrangement for locking the table at a selected vertical height.

United States Patent 1191 Garceau et al.

1111 3,742,868 [1451 July 3,1973

[75] Inventors: David S. Garceau, Columbus; Silas J. et a] Knoke, Seymour, both of Ind. [73] A L Si 1 l S l d [57] ABSTRACT ss1 nee: ear er, nc. e mou n g cg y r A cabmet mounted ironmg table uses an essent1ally Flledl 1971 conventional ironing top, front leg and front leg adjust- [21] No; 204 547 ment. The table has a cross-rod attached to its inner end adapted to move vertically within a pair of vertical guide channels on each side of the cabinet. The cross- [52] US. Cl. 108/39 r d i movable into a series of height adjusting slots [5 Int. are formed in a pair of ertical adjusting brack- Field of Search 39, 40, 111-l 13, ets at the upper ends of the guide channels or, in an- 10 312/242 other embodiment are integrally formed in a molded or preformed cabinet shell. A locking member pivotally References Cited mounted on the inner end of the ironing table is UNITED STATES PATENTS adapted to be moved to a locking position adjacent an 1 796 569 3/1931 Madsen 108/39 abutment Surface cabinet The abutment Surface 1:619:774 3/1927 watts 103/40 serves to prevent the cross-rod from being rocked out 3,314,741 4/1967 Litner 312/242 of the adjusting slots and provides a positive arrange- 1,207,268 12/1916 Blanchard... 108/39 ment for locking the table at a selected vertical height. 1,940,128 12/1933 Howard 108/39 2,646,634 7/1953 Mongar 108/39 8 Claims, 15 Drawmg Flgures ll 3 i \1 Q N 15 I I 4 I 2 l0 "a \\P 5 7- 2+5 5 b- 24 a s 24 HEIGHT ADJUSTING AND LOCKING ASSEMBLY FOR CABIN ET MOUNTED IRONING TABLE Primary Examiner-James T. McCall Assistant Egramin en-Glenn O. Finch I g A ttorney- Lawrence B. Biebel, Gilbert N. Henderson HEIGHT ADJUSTING AND LOCKING ASSEMBLY FOR CABINET MOUNTED IRONING TABLE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In cabinet-mounted ironing tables, it is common to provide a vertical guideway for slidably receiving a cross-bar attached to the inner end of the table. It is also well known to employ a series of spaced support slots adjacent the guideway, generally extending forwardly, for receiving the cross-bar in any one of a series of vertically selectable positions. Examples may be found in US. Pat. Nos. 899,633 of 1908, 1,207,268 of 1916; 1,255,991 of1918;and 1,480,817 of 1924 which disclose varying arrangements of a support leg hinged to the bottom of the cabinet for positioning the ironing board in a series of horizontally selectable and supportable positions.

Other arrangements in the art include: a pair of notched vertical arms fulcrumed to the vertical guideways and adapted to be shifted a short lateral distance into and out of the horizontal plane of the cross-bar to engage and support the same (US. Pat. No. 1,745,530 of 1930); a leaf spring and lug arrangement attached to the rear wall of the cabinet and adapted to receive the cross-bar as the table is swung to its working position (U.S. Pat. No. 1,940,128 of 1933); and a pair of diagonally extending guiding structures having a series of elongated and horizontally spaced slots for receiving thecross-bar (US. Pat. No. 2,646,634 of 1953).

One disadvantage with substantially all of the above structures is that, once the cross-bar is positioned in a selected pair of support slots, there is nothing other than the support leg connection at the outer end of the table to prevent the table from being accidentally rocked in the rearward direction. When moved with sufficient force, the cross-bar will move into the vertical guideway and slide downwardly to cause the table to lose its horizontal orientation. As a result, the iron and other objects which may bepositioned on the ironing table fall to the floor where they may be damaged or create a hazardous condition.

An improvement is therefore needed which will enable the user manually to lock the table at the inner end thereof after it has been located in the desired pair of supporting slots. The ideal locking arrangement would have a locking function only. If the arrangementhas an auxiliary supporting function, an accidental rocking-of the table may also'disengage the locking arrangement and defeat its purpose.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed 'to a cabinetmounted ironing table having an improved height adjusting andlocking assembly. "In general, the invention provides a manually operable lock bar hinged to the inner end of the table and pivotable between a releasing position raised above the table and enabling the table to be folded and vertically adjusted, and a locking position lowered to a substantially horizontal position and abutting an abutment surface disposed withinthe cabinet.

In the preferred embodiment, the lock bar is generally C-shaped and hinged to a pair. of arm supports attached to opposite sides of the table at the inner end thereof. The arm supports, in turn, have portions extending into the cabinet and support a cross-rod at the rear of the table. The rod'hs a pair of end sections disposed in vertical guide channels on each side of the cabinet. A series of vertically spaced and rearwardly extending slots on each side of the cabinet receive the cross-rod and provide for vertical adjustment of the table with respect to the cabinet.

The slots are preferably formed to prevent the crossrod from being accidentally moved forwardly into the guide channels, and have an upper surface with an elliptical-like configuration and a lower surface formed by an upwardly and slightly rearwardly projecting finger. These surfaces define a generally circular retaining region for the crossrod ends. The slots require the user, before the cross-rod can be moved into the guide channels, to rock the table and cross-rod rearwardly along the upper surface of the slots to carry the rod over the fingers.

In one embodiment, the slots are formed in adjusting brackets preferably having laterally inwardly extending .abutment sections adjacent the rear wall of the cabinet.

When the cross-rod is located in the retaining region of the slots, the locking member is pivoted downwardly to rest on the cross-rod in a substantially horizontal plane. In this position, the locking member is disposed adjacent the abutment sections of the adjusting brackets and, if the table is rocked rearwardly, engages the abutment sections and prevents the cross-rod from being rocked over the fingers in the slots and into the guide channels. The locking member is simply pivoted upwardly above the table to permit the cross-rod to be rocked into the guide channels for vertical adjustment or for folding. In another embodiment, the channels and the slots are formed as an integral wall portion of a molded cabinet.

One object of the invention is to provide a locking member for the inner end of a cabinet stored ironing table which is manually operable.

Another object is to provide a simply constructed height adjusting and locking assembly for such a table which has a minimum of parts, and which is adapted to prevent the accidental movement or adjustment of the table.

A further object of the invention is to provide an adjusting mechanism having a series of slots adapted to cooperate with a locking member to prevent accidental horizontal movement of a cross-rod, and to require a specific rocking action to remove the cross-rod therefrom.

Still another object is to provide a unique assembly of parts for facilitating folding and unfolding movement of the table within the cabinet.

These and other objects and features will readily become apparent from the drawings, the following description and the appended claims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an ironing table adapted to be folded into a cabinet and provided with the improved height adjusting and locking assembly of end of the ironing table taken along the line 3-3 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a partial section taken along line 4l 1 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective showing the relation of the cross-rod, lock bar and slots;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary side elevation with the lock bar in locking position (full lines), and in release position (broken lines)",

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 showing the parts during release;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 6 showing the table moving to storage;

FIG. 9 is a partial front elevation of the lower end cabinet and table in the stored position;

FIG. 10 is a perspective of a modification using a one-piece molded cabinet;

FIG. 11 is a front elevation of the cabinet, partially broken away;

FIG. 12 is a vertical section along line 1212 of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a transverse section along line 13-13 of FIG. 11;

FIG. 14 is an enlarged fragment of the cabinet foot; and

FIG. 15 is a section along line 15-15 of FIG. 14.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIGS. 1-9, a cabinet mounted ironing table top 10 is adapted to be folded into a cabinet 11. The table top 10 is preferably of the same full size and general construction as that of the conventional floor supported ironing table. The cabinet 11 may be recessed into a wall of a home or may be mounted to an existing wall. It includes a base 12, a pair of side walls 13, (and flush-mounted trim on the side walls and top where the cabinet is not recessed into a wall) and a cen-' tral rear wall 14. The cabinet 11 may be equipped with a door (not shown) which may be closed after the table 10 is folded into the cabinet to conceal the table from dust, etc.

The ironing table top 10 is preferably made of sheet metal and includes a flat ironing surface 15 and a generally downwardly turned rim flange 16 extending around the periphery of the surface 15.

The outer forward end of the table is slidably and pivotally hinged to a tubular support leg 18, and the inner end of the table is adapted to move vertically within the cabinet, as described below. The support leg 18 is adapted to pivot as the table is folded into the cabinet, and is hinged at its upper end to a slidable mechanism 20 attached to thei ironing portion 15 of the table, while the lower end of the leg is rigidly connected to a lateral foot 22 adapted to rotate within a pair of foot brackets 24 connected to the base 12 of the cabinet. The leg and foot construction may be as shown in Steinwedel U.S. Pat. No. 3,151,579 of 1964.

In accordance with the present invention, the improved adjusting and locking assembly includes a pair of L-shaped arm supports 25 each attached to an opposite side of the top 10 at the inner end thereof. Each arm support 25 includes a short segment 26 attached to the adjacent rim flange 16 on the inside surface thereof, and a larger segment 27 extending rearwardly into the cabinet 11.

A latching and guiding cross-rod 28 (FIG. 4) has a central section 29 attached to the rim flange 16 at the rear of the top 10, and a pair of lateral end sections 30 supported in aligned openings 31 in the segments 27 of the arm supports 25. The end sections 30 of the crossrod 28 are preferably offset below the central section 29, and the short segments 26 of the arm supports 25 are preferably turned inwardly at 32 (FIG. 4) to provide space so that the table may accommodate an ironing board pad and cover (not shown).

Guide channels 33 (FIGS. 2 and 5) having U-shaped cross-sections define forward flanges 34 and rearward flanges 35 and are attached to opposite side walls 13, extending vertically from the base 12 of the cabinet to about the center thereof. Fitted between the upper portion of each guide channel 33 and the rear wall 14 is a Z-shaped adjusting bracket 36 including a central section 38 having a series of vertically spaced and rearwardly extending adjusting slots 40 formed therein. The central section 38 extends between a forward, laterally outwardly extending section 41 disposed adjacent the rearward flange 35 of the guide channel 33 and a rearward, laterally inwardly extending abutment section 42 disposed adjacent the rear cabinet wall 14.

The adjusting slots 40 (FIG. 5) preferably have the configuration shown in the drawings, and include a diagonally downwardly extending upper surface 44 which has an elliptical-like curvature and a lower surface 46 defined by an upwardly projecting finger 48 to form with the upper surface 44 a generally circular retaining region 50 for receiving the end sections 30 of the adjusting cross-rod 28. Suitable notches (FIG. 5) in the rearward flanges 35 of the guide channels 33 and in the forward sections 41 of the adjusting brackets 36 provide openings 54 into the slots 40, and suitable bushings 52 such as plastic, metal, fiber or rubber, attached to the outer ends of the end sections 30 facilitate sliding movement of the end sections 30 within the guide channels 33 and the slots 40.

Referring to FIGS. 4-5, it can be seen that the end sections 30 of the cross-rod 28 (solid lines) are retained against horizontal movement in the forward direction by the fingers 48 which extend slightly rearwardly over the retaining regions 50. Thus, the cross-rod 28, which is rigidly attached to the ironing table 10, can be removed from the slots 40 only by specifically rocking the table and cross-rod rearwardly (FIG. 7) so that the bushings 52 travel rearwardly a short distance along the upper surface 44 and then upwardly over the fingers 48. This rocking movement enables the cross-rod 28 to pass through the openings 54 and to enter the guide channel 33 and, as shown by the arrows in FIG. 5, the table and cross-rod can then be guided vertically to an upper position (broken lines) toward another pair of slots or to a lower position (broken lines toward a folded position at the base 12 of the cabinet (FIG. 9).

Hinged locking means includes a locking bar or member 55 pivoted at the sides of the ironing table 10 and adapted to be manually moved between a raised releasing position and a lowered locking position. The locking member 55 is preferably C-shaped, having a bridge portion 56 adapted to be grasped by the user and a pair of longitudinally extending leg portions 58 provided with short right-angled end portions 60 received within a pair of aligned openings 62 located just below the lateral portion 32 of the arm supports 25. The end the portions 60 serve as pivots, and the locking member 55 is adapted to be pivoted from a raised re leasing position (dotted lines FIG. 5) permitting the cross-rod 28 to be moved within the guide channel 33 and adjusting slots 40, and a lowered, generally horizontal locking position (solid lines FIG. 5) preventing the cross-rod 28 from being moved rearwardly around the finger 48 and out of the slots 40.

Referring to FIGS. 5-6, it can be seen that when the locking member 55 is pivoted to its lowered locking position (solid lines) and when the end sections30 of the cross-rod 28 are disposed within the retaining regions 50, the bridge portion 56 of the locking member 55 is closely adjacent the rearward abutment sections 42 of the adjusting brackets 36. In this position, the end sections 30 support the leg portions 58 of the locking member 55 in a horizontal plane so that the bridge portion 56 will immediately engage the abutment sections 42 and prevent the rearward movement required to rock the cross-rods 28 out of the slots 40. The locking member 55 thereby provides a simple means of locking the table in a selected horizontal position. It is within the scope of the invention to permit the bridge portion to abut against the rear wall of the cabinet.

When it is desired to move the ironing table to a different vertical level, all that is required is for the user to grasp the bridge portion 56 and swing the locking member 55 upwardly to its raised unlocking position (dotted lines FIG. 6, solid lines FIG. 7). This enables the cross-rod 28 to be rocked out of the slots 40 by urging the table 10 downwardly and rearwardly (FIG. 7) The cross-rod 28 can then be readily moved over the fingers 48 in the forward direction through the openings 54 defined by the slots 40 and into the guide channels 33, where it may be moved vertically upwardly (FIG. 5) to a different vertical height. Leveling of the table in each position is accomplished by a corresponding adjustment of the leg slide mechanism 20.

On the other hand, when it is desired to fold the ironing table 10 into the cabinet 11, this may also be accomplished by simply moving the locking member 55 upwardly to its raised releasing position (FIG. 7), rocking the cross-rod 28 out of the slots 40 and into the guide channel 33 and next moving the locking member 55 downwardly (FIG. 8) around the inner end of the ironing table. The ironing table 10 may then be pivoted upwardly and the entire assembly will fold into the cabinet as the cross-rod 28 moves down the guide channels 33 to the position shown in FIG. 9 where the lock bar 55 is disposed below the inner end of the ironing table and the cross-rod 28 is located in its lowermost position within the guide channels 33. As in the case with the typical cabinet-mounted ironing tables, the door (not shown) is then closed to conceal the ironing table from dust, etc., and to provide an attractive appearance or covering for the wall in which the cabinet is mounted.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-9, the vertical side members 13 of the cabinet 11 may in fact be the usual vertical studs of a wall, and the tracks defined by the guide channels 33 and the brackets 36 may be attached to the inside surfaces of the studs. The brackets 24 supsponding to the channel 33 for slidably and adjustably receiving the ends 30 of the cross-rod 28. The shell 70 also includes a rear wall 76 which cooperates with the locking member 55 to prevent the ends 3th from being rocked out of the slots 72 when the ironing board is in a leveled position, as described above. The side walls join with a top wall 73 and a lower wall 80, to form a continuous shell. The outer flanges 81 provide a means by which the shell can be mounted in a prepared wall opening.

The lower wall 30 of generally rectangular lateral cross-section is formed with an arcuate or semicylindrical forward opening recess 82 on each side of the vertical center line of the shell as shown in FIGS.

' 14 and 15 to accommodate the lateral foot 22. Plates 85 retain the outer ends of the foot 22 within the recesses 82. The lower wall 80 also has a centrally disposed arcuate recess 36 which intersects the semi-cylindrical recesses 82 and allows the support leg w to pivot to a substantial vertical position when the table 10 is folded into the shell From the foregoing description and accompanying drawings, it is apparent that the present invention provides certain advantages and features. For example, the

manufacture because the number of parts are miniporting the leg foot 22 would be mounted on the 2X4 footer of the wall.

In another embodiment of the invention, the ironing table 10 of the present invention is mounted in a recessed molded shell ('FIGS. 10-15). Theshell 701s molded or formed of fiberglass, plastic, wood or metal material having integral guide channels, locking-slots and foot supporting recesses formed therein. Therefore, the shell 70 has a pair of flanged side walls 71, each having aseries of integral recessed adjusting slots 72 of the configuration describedabove in connection with the slots 40 and a vertical guide channel 74 corremized. It is also relatively simple to construct. The assembly is simple yet practical inthe sense that the slots are formed to prevent the table from moving into the guide channels when the locking member is raised to its releasing position. The folding operation is essentially a simple three-step process, involving the steps of moving the locking member upwardly and rocking the cross-rod out of the slot, moving the locking member downwardly around the inner end of the table, and tilting the table upwardly to fold it into the cabinet.

In either embodiment of the invention as described, a cabinet is provided with a built-in electric outlet, preferably in the upper righthand corner. The cabinet may also be provided with a built-in light and a timer and a safety power cut-off may be incorporated in the electric outlet. Also, a compact folding sleeve board may be mounted on the rear cabinet wall M in the space above the top of the table when the table is in the horizontal position. A rod-type ironing caddy, which folds down when not in use, may be mounted in the inside surface of the cabinet door (not shown).

While the forms of apparatus herein described constitute preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these precise forms of apparatus, and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is: 1.1n an ironing table of the type adapted to be folded into a wall cabinet or the like and having an outer end connected to a support leg pivotally connected to the base of the cabinet and an inner end movably received within the cabinet, an improved height adjusting and locking assembly comprising a pair of arm supports each attached to an opposite side of the ironing table at the inner end thereof and extending into said cabinet, a height adjusting cross-rod attached to the inner end of said table and having lateral end sections supported by said arm supports, means on said cabinet defining a pair of vertical guide channels for slidably receiving the end sections of said cross-rods, means on said cabinet further defining an adjusting section adjacent the upper end of each guide channel and forming series of vertically spaced forwardly opening slots for selectively receiving the end sections of said cross-rod, means forming a vertical abutment surface in said cabinet spaced rearwardly of said slots, and locking means pivotally connected to said arm supports for swinging movement between a releasing position raised above said table enabling said cross-rod to be moved without restriction within said channel to a selected pair of slots and a locking position adjacent said abutment surface preventing said cross-rod from being removed from said pair of slots.

2. The ironing table defined in claim 1 wherein said means defining said slots each includes a finger projection adjacent said channel so that said rod must first move inwardly toward said abutment surface before being received in said channels.

3. The ironing table defined in claim 1 wherein said slots are defined by upper surfaces and lower surfaces, and wherein said lower surfaces include upwardly extending fingers and said upper surfaces have ellipse-like configurations, and wherein said upper and lower surfaces cooperate to form gen-erally circular retaining regions in said slot for receiving said end sections, said fingers preventing said cross-rod from moving in the horizontally forward direction and requiring said crossrod to be removed from said slots only by a rocking movement rearwardly and upwardly along said upper surfaces and around said fingers.

4. The ironing table defined in claim 1 wherein said arm supports have short segments attached to the inner end of the ironing table and long segments extending rearwardly into the cabinet, and wherein said long segments have means for pivotally receiving said locking means and for supporting the end sections of said adjusting cross-rod.

5. The ironing table defined in claim 4 wherein said adjusting cross-rod has a central section attached to the inner end of said ironing table and disposed between said end sections, and wherein said end sections are offset below said central section to provide space for an ironing table pad and cover to be placed on said table.

6. In an ironing table of the type adapted to be folded into a wall cabinet or the like and having an outer and connected to a support leg pivotally connected adjacent the base of the cabinet and having an inner end movably received within the cabinet, an improved height adjusting and locking assembly comprising means defining a pair of oppositely directed adjusting rod sections at the inner end of said table, means on said cabinet defining a pair of vertical guide channels for slidably receiving said sections, means on said cabinet further defining an adjusting channel section at the upper end of each guide channel and forming series of vertically-spaced, forwardly-opening slots for selectively receiving said rod sections, means forming a vertical abutment surface in said cabinet spaced rearwardly of said slots, and a locking bar having arms pivotally connected adjacent said table inner end for swinging movement between a releasing position above said table enabling said sections to be moved without restriction from within said channel to selected pairs of said slots, and a locking position adjacent said abutment surface preventing said sections from being removed from said selected pair of slots.

7. The ironing table defined in claim 6 wherein said cabinet is a molded shell having side walls with integral said guide channels and height adjusting means recessed therein.

8. The ironing table defined in claim 7 wherein said shell includes a rear wall, and wherein said rear wall defines said abutment surface. 

1. In an ironing table of the type adapted to be folded into a wall cabinet or the like and having an outer end connected to a support leg pivotally connected to the base of the cabinet and an inner end movably received within the cabinet, an improved height adjusting and locking assembly comprising a pair of arm supports each attached to an opposite side of the ironing table at the inner end thereof and extending into said cabinet, a height adjusting cross-rod attached to the inner end of said table and having lateral end sections supported by said arm supports, means on said cabinet defining a pair of vertical guide channels for slidably receiving the end sections of said cross-rods, means on said cabinet further defining an adjusting section adjacent the upper end of each guide channel and forming series of vertically spaced forwardly opening slots for selectively receiving the end sections of said cross-rod, means forming a vertical abutment surface in said cabinet spaced rearwardly of said slots, and locking means pivotally connected to said arm supports for swinging movement between a releasing position raised above said table enabling said cross-rod to be moved without restriction within said channel to a selected pair of slots and a locking position adjacent said abutment surface preventing said cross-rod from being removed from said pair of slots.
 2. The ironing table defined in claim 1 wherein said means defining said slots each includes a finger projection adjacent said channel so that said rod must first move inwardly toward said abutment surface before being received in said channels.
 3. The ironing table defined in claim 1 wherein said slots are defined by upper surfaces and lower surfaces, and wherein said lower surfaces include upwardly extending fingers and said upper surfaces have ellipse-like configurations, and wherein said upper and lower surfaces cooperate to form gen-erally circular retaining regions in said slot for receiving said end sections, said fingers preventing said cross-rod from moving in the horizontally forward direction and requiring said cross-rod to be removed from said slots only by a rocking movement rearwardly and upwardly along said upper surfaces and around said fingers.
 4. The ironing table defined in claim 1 wherein said arm supports have short segments attached to the inner end of the ironing table and long segments Extending rearwardly into the cabinet, and wherein said long segments have means for pivotally receiving said locking means and for supporting the end sections of said adjusting cross-rod.
 5. The ironing table defined in claim 4 wherein said adjusting cross-rod has a central section attached to the inner end of said ironing table and disposed between said end sections, and wherein said end sections are offset below said central section to provide space for an ironing table pad and cover to be placed on said table.
 6. In an ironing table of the type adapted to be folded into a wall cabinet or the like and having an outer end connected to a support leg pivotally connected adjacent the base of the cabinet and having an inner end movably received within the cabinet, an improved height adjusting and locking assembly comprising means defining a pair of oppositely directed adjusting rod sections at the inner end of said table, means on said cabinet defining a pair of vertical guide channels for slidably receiving said sections, means on said cabinet further defining an adjusting channel section at the upper end of each guide channel and forming series of vertically-spaced, forwardly-opening slots for selectively receiving said rod sections, means forming a vertical abutment surface in said cabinet spaced rearwardly of said slots, and a locking bar having arms pivotally connected adjacent said table inner end for swinging movement between a releasing position above said table enabling said sections to be moved without restriction from within said channel to selected pairs of said slots, and a locking position adjacent said abutment surface preventing said sections from being removed from said selected pair of slots.
 7. The ironing table defined in claim 6 wherein said cabinet is a molded shell having side walls with integral said guide channels and height adjusting means recessed therein.
 8. The ironing table defined in claim 7 wherein said shell includes a rear wall, and wherein said rear wall defines said abutment surface. 